Many universities, aquatic centers and recreational facilities with swimming pools offer Red Cross lifeguard certification courses. To obtain certification, you must pass an advanced swimming test, for which you might need to train to fulfill the requirements. As part of the certification, you must also pass a course entitled, "First Aid and CPR for the Professional Rescuer." Generally, the swimming portion of the lifeguard certification is completed on a separate day from the CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, testing. To enroll in a Red Cross lifeguard course, you must be at least 15 years old.

First Aid and CPR

The Red Cross expects certified lifeguards to know how to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, children and infants until medical personnel arrive and take over resuscitating procedures. The CPR portion of the course requires you to assess potential emergencies, perform ventilations using breathing barriers, treat conscious and unconscious choking victims, and perform CPR. You must also learn how to effectively use an automated external defibrillator, or AED. The best way to train for this portion of the test is to review your Red Cross manual and mentally practice the procedures. You will receive hands-on training during your class.

Swimming

The swimming portion of lifeguard certification requires you to swim continuously and demonstrate rhythmic breathing control. Individual testing centers have a small amount of flexibility to determine what strokes are necessary to meet Red Cross requirements, but most require 300 yards of swimming. For example, Vanderbilt University requires Red Cross lifeguard applicants to swim 100 yards of front crawl using rhythmic breathing with a stabilizing, propellant kick. Applicants are allowed to breathe to the side or to the front. Certification also requires 100 yards of breaststroke using a pull, breathe, kick and glide sequence, and an additional 100 yards of either front crawl, breaststroke or a combination of the two. There are no time limits to complete the swimming requirements.

Treading Water

Many Red Cross certification programs require a swimmer to tread water for several minutes. For example, the University of Arkansas requires lifeguard applicants to tread water for two minutes, using their legs only. Applicants must place their hands under their armpits to avoid using them during the test. Vanderbilt University doesn't require a separate water-treading test. To train for this part of the lifeguard course, practice treading water in the deep end at a local swimming pool, staying close to the edge in case you get tired.

Retrieving

The Red Cross requires lifeguard applicants to complete a timed event. You must start in the water and swim 20 yards with your face in or out of the water. Swim goggles aren't allowed. Then you must surface dive, feet-first or head-first, to a depth of 7 to 10 feet and retrieve a 10-pound object. Once you reach the surface, you must swim 20 yards on your back and return to the starting point, holding the 10-pound object while keeping your face above water. You're not allowed to swim under water and must exit the water without a ladder or steps. To train for this event, practice the steps until you're comfortable with them. Then time yourself to see whether you can do it in less than a minute and 40 seconds.

About the Author

Kristine Tucker has been writing education, career, home and parenting articles since 2001. Her experiences at "The Athens Messenger" and as an English teacher, curriculum developer and Vice-President of an energy consulting firm paved the way for her writing career. Tucker has a degree in political science with a minor in international studies and holds Ohio teaching credentials.

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